Tool for tightening fence wires or the like

ABSTRACT

A pliers-like hand operated innovative tool which in use has proved effective when the user is called upon to take up slack and tighten sagging post-supported fence wires (in old or new fences) or alternatively, for crimping and tightening line wires whether woven with vertical stays, plain and smooth or of barbed wire in construction. Two lever or handle units, that is, Ushaped handle-equipped units are provided with opposed confronting shaft-like rod members uniquely and hingedly joined. The primary rod member has forwardly projecting longitudinally spaced brackets, each bracket comprising a projecting shank carrying a V-shaped adapter. The prongs or fingers of the adapter straddle the wire and a portion of the wire is firmly nested, seated and held in the anvil-like crotch portion. Six, more or less, brackets accommodate a stretch of the wire which is to be bent and suitably crimped in a manner to shorten the wire. The rod member of the second and companion unit provides a rocker shaft equipped with crimping or kinking fingers which are coordinated to coact with the adapters. By holding one handle or lever and actuating the other one relative thereto the desired multiple crimping result is achieved.

[451 Aug. 27, 1974 TOUL FOR THGHTENTNG lFENCE Wm OR THE LIKE [76] Inventor: George S. Greeott, 9605 Chalk Hill Rd., Healdsburg, Calif. 95448 [22] Filed: June 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 375,111

Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OlBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A pliers like hand operated innovative tool which in use has proved effective when the user is called upon to take up slack and tighten sagging post-supported fence wires (in old or new fences) or alternatively, for crimping and tightening line wires whether woven with vertical stays, plain and smooth or of barbed wire in construction. Two lever or handle units, that is, U- shaped handle-equipped units are provided with opposed confrontingshaft-like rod members uniquely and hingedly joined. The primary rod member has forwardly projecting longitudinally spaced brackets, each bracket comprising a projecting shank carrying a V- shaped adapter. The prongs or fingers of the adapter straddle the wire and a portion of the wire is firmly nested, seated and held in the anvil-like crotch portion. Six, more or less, brackets accommodate a stretch of the wire which is to be bent and suitably crimped in a manner to shorten the wire. The rod member of the second and companion unit provides a rocker shaft equipped with crimping or kinking fingers which are coordinated to coact with the adapters. By holding one handle or lever and actuating the other one relative thereto the desired. multiple crimping result is achieved.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TOOL FOR TIGH'IFIENIING FENCE WI OR THE LIKE This invention relates to manually usable fence wire crimping and slack take-up tools which are designed and adapted to tighten post-supported but sagging fence wires, line wire or the like, whether braced by companion stays, plain and smooth, or barbed, as the case may be. and pertains, more particularly, to a structurally distinct tool which is pliers-like in construction and characterized by a pair of handle units having hingedly united outward ends provided with novel openable and closable wire clenching and crimping means.

An object of this invention, broadly stated, is to provide an end product which is uniquely distinct and different from prior art wire kinking and tightening tools and, in so doing, to advance the art and achieve an improved time and labor saving result. Repeated in-use experience has shown that the disclosed tool is readily applicable and removable and will tighten wires be tween fence posts without pulling on and loosening the same. It obviates the need of removing either staples or wire ties from the posts, as is often necessary. In fact, a rancher can take up slack in a matter of minutes of spare time and thus accomplish good resultsflt is light in weight, convenient to use and no extra accessories are needed for efficiency of accomplishment.

The broad concept of pliers-type fence wire tightening tools is old and well known. For general background purposes and as indicative of the state of the art to which the invention relates attention is invited to the wire tightener shown in US. Pat. No. 762,691 granted to Thomas J. Corrigan and which shows wire crimping jaws squeezable toward each other for wire bending and using openable and closable levers or handles. A

similar fence wire tightening implement in which coordinating rounded prongs or fingers function to bend and tighten a wire is revealed in US. Pat. No. 1,268,922 granted to R. L. Bryan. The idea of forming a plurality of kinks or longitudinally crimping wires is disclosed in a wire tightener covered in US. Pat. No. 2,087,l25 issued to H. G. Smith et al.

The herein disclosed invention by way of comparison ensures time and labor saving results and is advanta geous in that construction achieves the end result desired with a minimum of physical effort. In addition and because of the up-and-down motion involved in utilizing the tool the users arms and hands do not tire quickly as is often the case with prior art tools and implements. The multiplicity of crimps resulting from each use of the tool and the effectual size of the crimps or kinks improves the step of bending fence and trellis wires particularly in that it also results in desirable resiliency of the bent wire and does so without displacing wire anchoring posts.

Briefly a preferred embodiment, as herein shown, is characterized by a first or primary handle unit embodying an elongated rigid round rod which constitutes a shaft like body member, said rod being provided at respective ends thereof with longitudinally spaced integral collar-like rings which are aligned and provide bearings. This shaft or rod is also provided with a plurality of integral longitudinally spaced brackets each embodying wire positioning adapters. Each adapter provides an anvil-like crotch in which a portion of the bendable wire can be firmly and retentively seated preparatory to crimping. This first handle unit is also provided with handle means which can be conveniently and capably grasped and held operatively in one hand of the user. The complemental secondary handle unit, also designated as a lever unit, is coordinated with the primary or first unit and embodies a similar rod, this rod being opposed to and paralleling the first-named rod and providing a rocker shaft whose end portions are journaled for angular rotation in the respectively coordinating bearings. This rocker shaft has handle means which is cooperable with the first-named handle means and which is actuatable by the other hand of the user. In addition the rod member provides a plurality of lateral wire-engaging fingers which are associatively aligned and cooperable with the adapters and, when properly actuated, serve to forcibly clench the seated portions of the wire, that is in a manner to uniformly bend and crimp the wire in a time-saving manner.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation which may be said to be aview observing the construction of FIG. 2 looking in a direction from right to left.

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1, observing the same in a direction from right to left.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view based on FIG. 2 which shows in full and phantom lines the construction and functioning relationship of the bending and kinking means on a suitably enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary suitably proportioned view which brings out with particularity the manner in which the bent portions of the fence wire are positioned,

clenched and acted upon.

With reference now to the views of the drawing and with particular reference to the individual component parts it will beevident (FIGS. 1 and 2) that the first or primary handle or lever unit is denoted by the numeral 6 and the complemental or companion secondary handle or lever unit is denoted by the numeral 8, each unit being of one-piece rigid material for lightweight but heavy duty results. The horizontally elongated uppermost rod member is denoted by the numeral 10, this being an integral component part of the unit 6. This member is shaft-like and is sometimes referred to as a body member. ltbridges the coacting upper ends of the legs or limbs 12 of the U-shaped handle means. The upper ends are slightly curved as at M (FIG. 3) and are integrally joined to the respective coating end portions of the rod 10. The lower (lower in the views of the drawing) ends of the legs are joined by a grippable bight or grip portion 16. The respective end portions of the rod or body member l0 are provided with duplicate open-ended collars M which provide aligned bearings. Thus the unit proper is made up of the U-shaped handle or lever, the body member or rod and aligned bearings 18. In addition this unit embodies a plurality of duplicate longitudinally spaced components which are here designated individually as brackets. 20. Each bracket is of rigid construction and comprises a lateral shank 22 joined to the-crotch portion of an accompanying V shaped adapter. This adapter is, in turn, provided with divergent finger-like prongs 2d and 26 which serve to accommodate the seatable portion 28 of the fence wire 30. The V-shaped adapters are lined up with each other and serve to position and clench the wire portions 28 as perhaps best brought out in FIG. 4.

With respect now to the complemental secondary handle unit, also lever unit, this too comprises a U- shaped handle 31 embodying coplanar legs or limbs 32 joined at their lower ends by a handgripping bight portion 34 (FIG. 1). The upper end portions 36 are integrally joined with a shaft-like rod 38 whose end por tions 40 are journaled for angular rotation in the bearings 18 as brought out in the views of the drawing. Instead of having brackets with adapters the peripheral surface of this rod member is provided with lateral integral rigid members which are here designated as bending and crimping fingers 42. It will be seen in FIG. 1 that there are six so-called brackets and six longitudinally. spaced properly aligned bending fingers 42 which are interposed between the V-shaped adapters to accomplish the bending and kinking result best shown in FIG. 4. It will be noted that when the handles are in substantially coplanar relationshp or approximately so as suggested in F IG. 2 the first-named U-shaped handle encompasses or surrounds the second-named handle so that the two handles can cooperate when properly actuated.

The manner in which the individual units 6 and 8 are constructed and assembled for coordinating action is clear, it is submitted, from FIGS. 1 and 2. The manner in which the wire, that is the fence wire 30, is seated and acted upon to provide the longitudinally spaced crimps or kinks is evident in FIG. 4. The manner in which the portions 28 of the wire are guided and seated in the V-shaped adapters is evident, it is believed, in FIG. 3 which also shows by suggestion the manner in which the two units are actuated relative to each other to not only provide the holding but the bending or kinking operation.

As is true with the use of many tools and implements, the exact procedural steps and mode of use may vary. It is usually desirable to hold the tool in an upstanding or vertical position and to approach the suspended or supported fence wire and to guide the longitudinally spaced wire portions 28 into the respective crotch portions of the V-shaped adapters. Once the tool is in this initial position the two units can be actuated relative to each other to bring the bending fingers 42 into play and to accomplish the finished result illustrated in FIG. 4.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use when taking the slack out of and tightening a supported fence wire or the like, a manually usable wire crimping and kinking tool comprising: a primary handle unit embodying an elongated rigid rod constituting a shaft-like body member and provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced integral aligned collar-like bearings. also provided with a plurality of integral brackets embodying wire positioning adapters, each adapter having an anvil-like crotch in which a portion of the bendable wire can be firmly and retentively seated preparatory to crimping, said handle unit further provided with handle means capable of being grasped and operatively held in one hand of the user, and a secondary handle unit complemental to said primary unit and embodying a rod opposed to, paralleling said first named rod, providing a rocker-shaft and having terminal end portions journaled for operation in said bearings, said rocker-shaft having handle means coacting with said first named handle means and swingable with the other hand of the user relative thereto, and also having a plurality of rigid lateral wire engaging fingers associatively aligned and cooperable with said adapters and, when properly actuated, serving to forcibly clench seated portions of said wire in a manner to uniformly bend and crimp the same.

2. The tool defined in claim 1, and wherein each adapter is substantially V-shaped in side elevation, the crotch having a shank and said shank being integrally joined with and positioned laterally to a coordinating peripheral surface of said rod having said bearing thereon.

'3. The tool defined in claim l, and wherein each adapter is substantially \/-shaped in side elevation, the crotch having a shank and said shank being integrally joined with and positioned laterally to a coordinating peripheral surface of said rod having said bearings thereon, each adapter having outwardly diverging prongs ofa length to initially pilot and guide the respective brackets into ready-to-function wire placement position prior to initiating the step of actuating the handle means of the secondary unit.

4. The kinking tool defined in claim 1, and wherein each handle means is substantially U-shaped in plan.

5. The kinking tool defined in claim 1, and wherein each handle means is substantially U-shaped in plan, the U-portion of the first named handle means being larger in size than the corresponding U-portion of the second mentioned handle means.

6. The tool defined in claim 3, and wherein each handle means is U-shaped in plan and embodies coplanar legs united at corresponding inward ends by a connecting bight portion, the outward ends of the legs remote from the bight portion being operativelyjoined with the respectively associated first and second named rods.

7. The tool defined in claim 3, and wherein each handle means is U-shaped in plan and embodies coplanar legs united at corresponding inward ends by a connecting bight portion, the outward ends of the legs remote from the bight portion being operativelyjoined with the respectively associated first and second named rods, the U-portion of the second named handle means being smaller in size than and being surrounded by the larger U-portion of said first named handle means when the respective handle means are in a common plane.

8. For use when taking the slack out of and tightening a supported fence wire or the like, a manually usable wire crimping and kinking tool comprising: a primary handle unit embodying an elongated rigid rod constituting a shaft-like body member and provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced integral aligned collar-like bearings, also provided with a plurality of integral brackets embodying wire positioning adapters, each adapter being V-shaped in side elevation and providing an anvil-like wire seating crotch portion, each crotch portion embodying a vertex which is integrally united with a shank, said shank being lateral to and integrally joined to a given coordinating peripheral surface of the user relative thereto, and also having a plurality of rigid lateral wire engaging fingers associatively aligned and cooperable with said adapters and, when properly actuated, serving to forcibly clench seated portions of said wire in a manner to uniformly bend and crimp the 

1. For use when taking the slack out of and tightening a supported fence wire or the like, a manually usable wire crimping and kinking tool comprising: a primary handle unit embodying an elongated rigid rod constituting a shaft-like body member and provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced integral aligned collar-like bearings, also provided with a plurality of integrAl brackets embodying wire positioning adapters, each adapter having an anvil-like crotch in which a portion of the bendable wire can be firmly and retentively seated preparatory to crimping, said handle unit further provided with handle means capable of being grasped and operatively held in one hand of the user, and a secondary handle unit complemental to said primary unit and embodying a rod opposed to, paralleling said first named rod, providing a rocker-shaft and having terminal end portions journaled for operation in said bearings, said rocker-shaft having handle means coacting with said first named handle means and swingable with the other hand of the user relative thereto, and also having a plurality of rigid lateral wire engaging fingers associatively aligned and cooperable with said adapters and, when properly actuated, serving to forcibly clench seated portions of said wire in a manner to uniformly bend and crimp the same.
 2. The tool defined in claim 1, and wherein each adapter is substantially V-shaped in side elevation, the crotch having a shank and said shank being integrally joined with and positioned laterally to a coordinating peripheral surface of said rod having said bearing thereon.
 3. The tool defined in claim 1, and wherein each adapter is substantially V-shaped in side elevation, the crotch having a shank and said shank being integrally joined with and positioned laterally to a coordinating peripheral surface of said rod having said bearings thereon, each adapter having outwardly diverging prongs of a length to initially pilot and guide the respective brackets into ready-to-function wire placement position prior to initiating the step of actuating the handle means of the secondary unit.
 4. The kinking tool defined in claim 1, and wherein each handle means is substantially U-shaped in plan.
 5. The kinking tool defined in claim 1, and wherein each handle means is substantially U-shaped in plan, the U-portion of the first named handle means being larger in size than the corresponding U-portion of the second mentioned handle means.
 6. The tool defined in claim 3, and wherein each handle means is U-shaped in plan and embodies coplanar legs united at corresponding inward ends by a connecting bight portion, the outward ends of the legs remote from the bight portion being operatively joined with the respectively associated first and second named rods.
 7. The tool defined in claim 3, and wherein each handle means is U-shaped in plan and embodies coplanar legs united at corresponding inward ends by a connecting bight portion, the outward ends of the legs remote from the bight portion being operatively joined with the respectively associated first and second named rods, the U-portion of the second named handle means being smaller in size than and being surrounded by the larger U-portion of said first named handle means when the respective handle means are in a common plane.
 8. For use when taking the slack out of and tightening a supported fence wire or the like, a manually usable wire crimping and kinking tool comprising: a primary handle unit embodying an elongated rigid rod constituting a shaft-like body member and provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced integral aligned collar-like bearings, also provided with a plurality of integral brackets embodying wire positioning adapters, each adapter being V-shaped in side elevation and providing an anvil-like wire seating crotch portion, each crotch portion embodying a vertex which is integrally united with a shank, said shank being lateral to and integrally joined to a given coordinating peripheral surface of the rod, said unit also embodying a U-shaped levering and operating handle, and a secondary handle unit complemental to said primary unit and embodying a rod opposed to, paralleling said first named rod, providing a rocker-shaft and having terminal end portions journaled for operation in said bearings, said rocker-shaft having handle means coacting with said firsT named handle means and swingable with the other hand of the user relative thereto, and also having a plurality of rigid lateral wire engaging fingers associatively aligned and cooperable with said adapters and, when properly actuated, serving to forcibly clench seated portions of said wire in a manner to uniformly bend and crimp the same. 